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As far back as I can remember, presidential candidates from both parties have taken the lead in driving the national debate heading into election years. They took bold positions on the issues of the day, put forth real policy plans, and led a national discussion on how to deal with them. Members of Congress often took their cues from the leading presidential candidates of their party.

Not so this year. Heading into 2012, on every key issue, the president is leading. Congressional Republicans, while usually completely misguided, have at least offered an alternative. And the GOP presidential candidates? Well, they seem to take every opportunity possible to duck and hide. And when they do take a position, it's usually after the dust settles that they take their cues from the House tea party caucus.

During the debt ceiling fight over the summer, the GOP candidates were nowhere to be found. Mitt Romney, then the frontrunner, refused to take a position on the issue until after the vote had been taken. Now, as Congress and the White House grapple with the payroll tax issue, the GOP candidates are once again completely silent.

The national dialogue is being completely driven by the president and congressional leaders, while the GOP presidential field proves itself to be the most irrelevant bunch of candidates in recent American history.

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